We hope you will join the FMMC Foundation for the 2023 Washington International Competition for Voice! In its 70th year, the WIC provides renowned jurors offering individual advice and feedback to all semifinalists. See below for important deadlines, details, and more.

To apply, visit app.getacceptd.com/wic. The application will open on October 15, 2022.

To access the shareable flyer, click here.

Dates and Information

  • Application Open: October 15, 2022
  • Application Deadline: February 25, 2023
  • Semifinalists Announced:Mid-March 2023

Semifinals take place in-person at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Finals take place in the Terrace Theater of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 2 PM.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must not be under professional management.
  • Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 32 (as of the date of the competition). Proof of age will be required.
  • Previous first-prize winners of the competition and current students of the judges may not apply.

Prizes

  • First Prize: $10,000
  • Second Prize: $5,000
  • Third Prize: $3,000
  • Three Finalist Awards: $1,000
  • Audience Prize: $1,000

Judges

The competition provides a superb jury, offering individual advice and feedback to all semifinalists.

Sylvia McNair, Soprano

Aprile Millo, Soprano

Antony Walker, Tenor

Housing

Local housing is offered to all semifinalists.

Performance Awards

Performance awards included solo appearances with the Avanti Orchestra, City Choir of Washington, New Dominion Chorale, and FMMC Chorale.

Application

Applications can be found at app.getacceptd.com/wic. Applications will be accepted from October 15th, 2022 – February 25, 2023.

Required Repertoire

Your repertoire must include the following:
  1. Two oratorio arias by a composer of your choice
  2. Three contrasting arias from the operatic repertoire
  3. Three French art songs from the 19th through 21st centuries
  4. Three German art songs from the 19th through 21st centuries
  5. Three art songs in English, including two by contemporary American composers (1900-present). Musical theater selections do not meet this requirement.

The Italian, German, French, and English languages must be represented in the repertoire.

Application Video

Submit a maximum of 30 minutes, chosen from your required repertoire, for the audition video. The selections should present an accurate representation of your singing. The video must contain:

  1. An oratorio aria
  2. An opera aria
  3. A French art song
  4. A German art song
  5. A song by an American composers (1900-present)

Questions about repertoire should be sent to FMMC President, Leslie Luxemburg, at president@fmmc.org. List of format and video instructions can be found at app.getacceptd.com/wic. For technical questions, please visit the GetAcceptd Help Desk.

IMPORTANT

  • Please DO NOT include your name in the file name of your video recording.
  • All submitted video selections must come from the submitted repertoire list.
  • No substitutions or edits will be allowed for submitted repertoire once the application is finalized.
  • Applicants must be prepared to present all repertoire on list if chosen to participate in the semifinals.

Regulations and Instructions

  • All selections must be performed from memory, both on the video and in the live auditions.
  • NO changes in repertoire permitted past the deadline date of February 25, 2023.
  • A separate preliminary round jury will review submissions and select approximately 16 semifinalists.
  • All applicants will be notified of the results by mid-March.
  • Semifinalists will be sent further instructions as needed.
  • Due to IRS guidelines, award winners will be required to provide their Social Security Number (SS#), if available. Winners who do not have a SS# are subject to tax withholding depending on their citizenship status.

Contact

Further information about the competition and the application process is available from Chen-Li Tzeng, Competition Chair, at wicvoice@fmmc.org.

Disclaimer

  • The FMMC Foundation assumes no responsibility for actions of or injuries sustained by applicants or their escorts during their course of stay in the Washington, DC area.
  • All contestants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington, DC.
  • The decision of the judges is final and not to be disputed. No contact with the judges is permitted until after the results have been announced.
  • The WIC reserves the right to use any recordings or photographs originated during the competitions, or any photographs or recordings provided by the contestants.